Onika Tanya Maraj
Nicki Minaj, born Onika Tanya Maraj on December 8, 1982, became one of the best-selling female rappers of all time. Discovered by Lil Wayne, her 2010 debut album ‘Pink Friday’ debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. She has won over 28 major awards, including the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award in 2022. As of 2025, she has released three platinum studio albums.
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Nicki Minaj — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Nicki Minaj was born in St. James, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago on December 8, 1982. She moved to Queens, New York at age five with her family. Her father struggled with drug addiction before reforming after rehab and church attendance. She attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, where she studied singing and acting. She lost her voice on the day of her planned audition for the drama program, but her passion for performance never waned.
In April 2007, Minaj released her first mixtape Playtime Is Over. Her 2008 mixtape Sucka Free earned her Female Artist of the Year at the Underground Music Awards. The 2009 mixtape Beam Me Up Scotty drew positive reviews from BET and MTV. Lil Wayne noticed her and signed her to Young Money Entertainment. Her debut album Pink Friday 2010 was a massive success, followed by Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded 2012 and The Pinkprint 2014, all achieving platinum status. She has collaborated with artists like Britney Spears, and in 2022 she received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
She married childhood friend Kenneth Petty on October 21, 2019. They have one son, Papa Bear Petty, born September 30, 2020. She was previously in a relationship with rapper Meek Mill from April 2015 to January 2017. She has three siblings: older brother Jelani, younger brother Micaiah, and younger sister Ming. Her many alter egos include Roman Zolanski and Barbie.
Many credit Nicki Minaj with reviving female rap in the 2010s. She has influenced a generation of artists and holds records, including being the most followed rapper on social media with over 200 million followers. She received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards. Her alter egos and bold fashion sense have made her a cultural icon. She is remembered for her rapid-fire delivery, colorful music videos, and entrepreneurial ventures.
Browse the complete filmography of Nicki Minaj — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
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Every award, honor, and recognition received by Nicki Minaj — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Nicki Minaj — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
I Know Right Now She Has No Idea Who I Am, but I’d Like to Collaborate with Enya One Day. of Course I’d Love to Work with Jay Z, Maybe Even Phil Collins. I Love His Voice.
Don’t Get It Twisted. It’s Not About Money, It’s Not About the Fame. It’s About I Don’t Have to Worry About If My Little Brother Is Gonna Be Able to Get a New Toy for Christmas. It’s Those Little Tiny Things That Really Make up the Bigger Picture. So, My Happiness Doesn’t Come from Money or Fame. My Happiness Comes from Seeing Life Without Struggle.
When You’re a Girl, You Have to Be Everything, You Have to Be Dope at What You Do, but You Have to Be Super Sweet, and You Have to Be Sexy, and You Have to Be This and You Have to Be That and You Have to Be Nice, and You Have to It’s Like, I Can’t Be All of Those Things at Once. I’m a Human Being.
I Don’t Think Intimidated Is the Word. I Definitely Get Excited by It. I Don’t Want to Let Anybody Down. I’ve Always Been the Type of Person to Make Everybody Happy and Get Things Done. I Want Everything to Be 100% Perfect. I Do Feel It When People Hold Me to High Expectations.
Wayne Has Always Been My Biggest Influence. It’s Weird Because I Sit Down and Talk to Wayne Like He’s Just a Regular Human Being, and Then I Walk on Stage with Him and There’s 20,000 People Screaming for Him.
As Long as a Nipple Didn’t Come Out to Play, I’m Fine.
My Cousin in Trinidad Won’t Get the Vaccine Cuz His Friend Got It & Became Impotent. His Testicles Became Swollen.
Little-known facts about Nicki Minaj — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
LaGuardia High School graduation saw Minaj participation in the drama program; she had intended to sing but lost her voice on audition day.
Traditional Chinese characters on her left arm spell God you are always with me.
Musical influences include Lisa Left Eye Lopes, Lil’ Wayne, Smokey Robinson, Lauryn Hill, Jadakiss, Natasha Bedingfield, Remy Ma, Lil’ Kim, Missy Elliott, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Jones, M.I.A., Cyndi Lauper, TLC, Ye, Trina, and Drake.
Minaj supported Britney Spears on the Femme Fatale tour in America and three UK dates, and appeared on the remix of Till the World Ends with Kesha.
On May 21, 2017, she launched a Twitter contest to pay off fans’ college tuition and student loans, requiring straight A’s or a 4.0 GPA.
She was inspired by R&B singer Monica, performing Why I Love You So Much at every talent show; during her Pink Friday Tour in Atlanta, she called Monica one of her all-time greatest influences.
Son Papa Bear Petty with husband Kenneth Petty was born September 30, 2020.
Married childhood friend Kenneth Petty on October 21, 2019 after ten months of dating.
Friendships include Foxy Brown, Keke Wyatt, Ariana Grande, and Kate Upton.
Siblings: older brother Jelani Maraj, younger brother Micaiah Maraj, and younger sister Ming Maraj.
An avid Barbie doll collector, she often references Barbie in songs; a one-of-a-kind Barbie doll in her likeness from Pink Friday was auctioned for $4,855 in 2011, benefiting charity.
Has Afro-Trinidadian and Indo-Trinidadian ancestry.
Dated rapper Meek Mill from April 2015 to January 2017.
Endorsement deals include Adidas, MAC Cosmetics, and Pepsi.
Born at 9:25 AM AST.
Can play the clarinet.
Previously worked at Red Lobster.
Luxury car collection includes a Range Rover, a Rolls Royce, and a pink Lamborghini.
Alter egos include Barbie, Roman Zolanski, Chun-Li, Red Ruby Da Sleeze, Martha, and Nicki Lewinsky.
Had her first child Papa Bear at age 37.
Originally wanted to be an actress and took drama classes in school.
Influenced by Lauryn Hill and Foxy Brown while growing up.
Most followed rapper on social media with over 200 million followers.
Besides the Chinese character tattoo, she has a Barbie wrist tattoo in red ink.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Nicki Minaj.
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